Lord Rennard has stepped aside from his role as a senior Liberal Democrat
policy adviser to fight allegations that he sexually pestered female staff.

The top Lib Dem official official will temporarily stand down from his party duties to avoid "embarrassment" to the party, after several women made accusations about his conduct on Channel Four News.

The peer resigned from his role as chief executive in 2009 but was still actively involved in the Liberal Democrats. He will now withdraw from the party's group in the House of Lords, which means he will not be able to vote with his party on any issues.

He will also leave from the party's federal policy committee, which is responsible for coming up with ideas for the Liberal Democrat manifesto.

It was also claimed that senior party figures knew of allegations about Lord Rennard's conduct but failed to act.

Following the claims, Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, ordered a review of the party’s rules for dealing with such allegations.

Once the party’s electoral mastermind, Lord Rennard oversaw a number of successful by-election campaigns, as well as the 2001 and 2005 general election campaigns.

He quit his post in 2009 for “family and health reasons” but remains active in the party and regularly attends its events.

Several Lib Dem women told Channel Four News on Thursday that while he was chief executive, Lord Rennard had touched them inappropriately or propositioned them.

Bridget Harris, a former special adviser to Mr Clegg, said that in a hotel bar at a party conference, the peer repeatedly touched her legs without permission.

“I had to physically move away from him,” she said. “He suggested that we take our coffees upstairs to his room.”

Mrs Harris said she reported the incident to party managers, but nothing was done.

Another, anonymous, Lib Dem woman, told the channel that the peer once “shoved his hand down the back of my dress”.

An internal Lib Dem email seen by Channel Four News also referred to several other allegations of inappropriate behaviour that were known to senior Lib Dem politicians.

In a statement, the party confirmed that it was reviewing both the allegations against Lord Rennard, and its rules for dealing with complaints.

Mr Clegg has asked Tim Farron, the party president, to establish an “immediate review into all our procedures for dealing with these issues, including a thorough examination of how allegations made in the past have been handled.”

A new review group had its first meeting on Thursday, the party said.

The statement added: “An internal investigation into the specific allegations raised by Channel Four has begun under the Party’s disciplinary procedures.

“There are a number of questions that have been raised and our review will ensure we properly address all of them.

“We will not tolerate harassment in our party and we urge anyone to contact the Chief Executive or use our confidential whistle-blower procedure if they have issues they wish to raise.”

Lawyers for Lord Rennard told Channel Four News: "Lord Rennard has always strived to conduct himself responsibly and appropriately at all times and has no recollection of any inappropriate behaviour.

"In addition, our client is unaware of any complaint about his conduct ever being made against him... In addition, Lord Rennard describes as completely untrue, any suggestion that he resigned as chief executive as a result of allegations about inappropriate behaviour.”

Before his resignation, it emerged that Lord Rennard had claimed more than £40,000 for a second home, despite owning an apartment less than two miles from Westminster. A Lords inquiry found his claims were in keeping with the rules at the time.